Transfer mechanism



April 9, 1963 JUNJI HATA ETAL 3,084,841

TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed May 31, 1960 5 5 K I 1 Q9) C) sw g 3 0% INVENTORS J UNJ/ HA TA JUK/O KA NEKO 3,084,841 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,841 TRANSFER MECHANISM Junji Hata and Yulkio Kaneko, Kyoto (Jity, Japan, assignors to Dal Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,909 Claims priority, application Japan June 3, 1959 8 Claims. (Cl. 226-113) This invention relates to a transfer mechanism and particularly to a transfer mechanism capable of changing the velocity of transfer in winding and reeling apparatus operating at uniform velocity.

The apparatus for coiling at uniform velocity such Web-like materials as aluminum foil, cellophane, foil, paper, polyethylene, cloth, etc. which are continuously fed are frequently used in the machines for manufacturing or processing these materials and particularly in rotary printing presses which print on these materials. It is very convenient to be able to inspect the material being manufactured or processed without stopping the entire machine. However, in case the travel of the web is at a high velocity, it is extremely difficult to inspect it.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel mechanism which is operable to temporarily reduce, or stop, the movement of a portion only of the moving web, so that this portion may be inspected without stopping the entire machine or the processing of the material. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a novel mechanism in the reel apparatus which feeds a Web-like material continuously at a uniform velocity and rolls up said material continuously at the same uniform velocity, whereby the transfer velocity of the web material rolled by rollers and forwarded by driving rollers is periodically reduced, then increased; or periodically stopped then started again, by causing two rollers or a multiple number of rollers, each two of which constitute a pair, to perform a reciprocating motion at a uniform velocity in one direction of the stroke and at a different velocity in the other direction of the stroke.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the invention; and FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of the instrument.

The web, which is not shown, has a path, indicated by the dot-dash line. Starting at X, FIGURE 1, the web first passes upwardly over and in contact with roller 1, thence, still upwardly and outwardly, to and about roller 2. From 2 the web passes horizontally inwardly to and about roller 3, thence horizontally outwardly to and about roller 4, thence in a straight horizontal pass to and about roller 5. From roller the web passes horizontally inwardly to and about roller 6, thence horizontally outwardly to and about roller 7, then downwardly and inwardly to contact roller 8 at Y, fromwhence it passes 55 to a gathering roll, not shown. While the passes of the web between rollers 2, 3; 3, 4; 4, 5'; 5, 6; and 6, 7, are horizontal and thus parallel, this is for compactness and to facilitate construction, and is not a necessity. The sprockets 2., 3', 4', 5', 6 and 7 are fixed with the roller-s 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. The roller-s 2, 4, 5 and 7 are journaled in bearings carried by stationary frame 16, and rollers 3 and 6 are journaled upon respective shafts '13 and 13 by means of ball or other antifriction bearings.

Gears 11 and 11 are fixed to the respective ends of shaft 13. Likewise, gears 12 and 12' are fixed to the respective ends of shaft 13. Gears 1 1 and 12 mesh with a rack :18 fixed with the frame of the machine. Likewise, gears 11 and 12' mesh with a second rack 18 likewise fixed with the machine in parallelism with rack 18. By this construction, shafts 13 and 13, together with rollers 3 and 6 may be translated as a unit along the aforesaid racks. The sprockets 2', 3', 4, 5', 6' and 7' are interconnected for synchronous rotation by chain which is driven by sprocket 34 which is driven by the main shaft through bevel gears 31 and 32, and drive shaft 33. Sprockets 9 and 10 are spaced in the direction of travel of the web passing from roller 4 to roller 5 and are journaled for rotation on fixed vertical axes. These sprockets are connected for synchronous rotation by chain 14 whose passes are, of course, parallel with racks 18, 18'. Drive is effected by a pole change motor 37 connected to drive a variable speed drive 36, preferably of the stepless type. The output of drive 36 operates, in a manner obvious from inspection of FIGURE 1, a shaft which, in turn, is direct-connected by bevel gearing, to drive sprocket 9. The speed ratio of the motor may be, for example, 1:2. Frame 16 is provided with limit switches 38 and 39, which convert the number of poles of the motor 37 through a contactor which is not shown in the drawings. In other words, the wiring is arranged in such a way that if the r.p.m. of the motor is N when switch 38 is closed, the rpm. will be N/2 when limit switch 39 is closed. Variable speed device 36 is adjusted so that in case the r.p.m. of motor 37 is N, the speed of chain 14 will be V/2, and when the motor rotates at N/2 r.p.m., the corresponding speed of chain 14- is V/ 4. Chain 14 is provided with a pin 20 which is carried by bar '19 fixed at its ends to and extending between the movable plates 17 and 17 and forming therewith a slide.

Thus rollers 3 and 6 may be reciprocated as a unit in a plane parallel with the passes of chain 14. It is within the purview and scope of the invention to provide multiple sets of these rollers wherein each two rollers are made a pair, to effect the conversion of velocity.

In describing the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and the principle shown in FIG. 2, the diameters of rollers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are the same and will be designated as r. As shown upon FIGURE 2, the vertical spacing between the axes of rollers 2, 4 and 5, 7 is 2r. The axes of rollers 4 and 5 determine a first plane. Likewise the axes of rollers 2 and 7 determine a second plane. The plane determined by the axes of rollers 3 and 6 lies midway between the aforesaid first and second planes. Thus the horizontal and parallel passes of the Web are effected, in the manner previously described. When the machine is set in motion main shaft 36 rotates to drive all rollers synchronously through chain 15. Letthe linear speed of chain 15 be V. The web of material then travels at the same linear speed and after passing roller '8, is collected upon a roller or drurn, not shown. When motor 37 is energized, chain 14 is driven 60 thereby to translate rollers 3 and 6 as a unit along racks 18, 18. As previously described the assembly comprising rollers 3, 6, shafts 13, 13, plates 17, 17 and abutment 40 are translated as a unit.

Plate 17 is provided with an abutment 46, so that when the plate reaches the left limit A, switch 38 will be closed thereby, and when it reaches the right limit, switch 39 will be closed. Therefore, when the movable side plates 17 and 17' and the roller shafts 13 and 13' proceed toward the direction of the roller 5, they move at the speed of V/ 2, and when they proceed toward the direction of the roller 4, they move at the speed of V/ 4. Consequently, the material forming the pass between rollers 3 and 6 stops its movement, the speed being zero, when the rollers 3 and 6 are moving toward the direction of the roller 5, and when the rollers 3 and 6 are moving toward the direction of the roller i, the belt-like material will advance at the speed of V+V/2. Now, the time during which the roller shafts l3 and 13' advance toward roller is represented by and the time during which they move in the opposite direction is represented by t S being the distance traveled in either direction.

Thus, in case V=2 meter/second and S=l meter, the following values are obtained:

t =1/3 second Therefore, the belt-like material will stop its movement for one second between the rollers 4- and 5, and then moves forward for /s second, and it will repeat the alternate action of stop and movement in this manner.

Referring to FIG. 3 showing the wiring of the instrument, relay coil 3ST is constantly energized from one phase of the three-phase source St to thereby maintain closed, relay contacts 3%(1. Switch 39 is normally open, and switch 38 is normally closed. Both switches are also shown upon FIG. =1 and have been previously described. Assuming the frame including plates 17 and 17, FIG. 1, is moving to the right as seen in that figure, when abutment 40 strikes switch 39, the latter is closed toestablish a circuit through relay coil 391. Energization of coil 391" closes relay contacts 39C to thereby reverse the direction of rotation of motor 37 at increased speed. At the same time relay contacts 39 are closed to establish a holding circuit for coil 39T so that, despite opening of switch 39, the coil remains energized during travel of the frame to the left as viewed upon FIG. 1. As the frame moves into its leftward limiting position and abutment 44) engages switch 33, the latter is momentarily opened thus breaking the holding circuit through coil 39f. Contacts 39C and 39' then open and motor 37 is thus reversed to drive the frame to the right at slower speed.

As explained notwithstanding the fact that the web material is fed at a uniform velocity and is continuously rolled up at the same velocity, it is possible to stop or reduce the speed of the material passing between rollers 4 and 5 for a certain period of time while the machine is in operation, thereby making it possible to inspect the material during the said period of time. Furthermore, it is possible to change at will the ratio between the time in which the stoppage or the slower movement takes place and the time in which the linear rate at which the material is wound, and consequently the present invention achieves the result in that an inspection of the material can be made while the material advances at the most efficient linear rate of travel.

In the claims, the term horizontal, is for convenience in clearly defining the relative positions of the parts as shown upon FIGURE 1 and is not to be taken as limiting the machine to any particular position in use.

We claim:

1. A machine for momentarily stopping, for visual inspection, the relative translation of a portion of a moving web of material, comprising, a first pair of rollers journaled for rotation about fixed, widely spaced axes defining a first plane, a second pair of rollers journaled for rotation about closely-spaced axes defining a second plane parallel with and vertically offset from said first plane, all said axes being parallel, a pair of spaced racks fixed parallel with said planes and extending in the direction of travel of said Web between said first pair of rollers, first and second parallel shafts on which said second pair of rollers are respectively journaled, a first pair of pinions fixed to said first shaft, each in mesh with a respective one of said racks, a second pair of pinions fixed to said second shaft, each in mesh with a respective one of said racks, and a slide journaling said shafts in fixedly spaced parallel relation.

2. A machine as in claim 1, reversible power means connected with said slide to reciprocate the same and including a motor, a control circuit for said motor including a pair of limit switches, abutment means carried by said slide and engaging each switch at a corresponding limit of reciprocation of said slide, to thereby reverse the direction of movement of said power means and said slide.

3. A machine as in claim 2, said power means includ ing a variable speed drive, and power driven means connecting all said rollers for rotation at the same peripheral speed.

4. In a machine for momentarily slowing the relative translation of a Web of material moving at constant linear velocity, a frame, first and second rollers forming a first pair, journaled in said frame on spaced axes defining a first horizontal plane, a slide mounted on said frame for horizontal translation below said first plane, a pair of shafts journaled in said slide for rotation about spaced axes defining a second plane below and parallel with said first plane, third and fourth rollers each journaled on a respective one of said shafts and forming a second pair, fifth and sixth rollers forming a third pair and journaled in said frame for rotation about spaced axes defining a third plane below and parallel with said first and second planes, all said axes being parallel, the spacing between the rollers of said second pair being less than the spacing between the rollers of said first and third pairs, said first and second pairs of rollers being tangent to a common plane and on opposite sides thereof, respectively, said second and third pairs of rollers being tangent to another common plane, on opposite sides thereof, respectively, said Web passing about said fifth, third, first, second, fourth and sixth rollers, in the order mentioned, reversible power means connected with said slide to reciprocate said second pair of rollers, control means carried by said frame and connected with said power means, to reverse the same, abutment means carried by said slide and engaging said control means to reverse the direction of translation of said slide at the predetermined limits of translation thereof, and power driven means connected with all said rollers to rotate the same at the same peripheral speed.

5. A machine as in claim 4, said reversible power means comprising an electric motor, said control means comprising a pair of limit switches and a circuit for said motor, said abutment means engaging and actuating each said switch at the corresponding limit of translation of said slide, said power driven means comprising a plurality of sprockets each fixed with a respective one of said rollers, a chain passing about all said sprockets, and a drive sprocket engaging said chain.

6. A machine as in claim 5, first and second racks fixed with said frame at opposite ends of said slide and extending parallel with said planes, first and second pairs of pinions, each pinion of said first pair being fixed to one of said shafts and in mesh with a respective one of said racks, each pinion of said second pair being fixed to the other of said shafts and in mesh with a respective one of said racks, to thereby constrain said slide to translation only parallel with said planes.

7. A machine for momentarily stopping the relative translation of a portion of a web moving at constant linear velocity, comprising a frame, a first pair of rollers journaled in said frame for rotation about fixed, spaced axes defining a first plane, a second pair of rollers rotatable about fixedly spaced axes defining a second plane parallel with said first plane, all said axes being parallel, said first and second pairs of rollers 'being substantially tangent to and upon respectively opposite sides of a common plane, first means operable to translate said second pair of roller-s as a unit in a direction parallel with said planes, power driven means operating all said rollers at the same uniform peripheral speed, and power means connected with said first means and operable to translate the same at variable speed independently of the peripheral speed of said rollers.

8. A machine as in claim 7, said power driven means including a reversible motor translating said second pair of rollers between limiting positions, and means automatically reversing said power drive by and in response to movement of said second pair of rollers into respective ones of said limiting positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A MACHINE FOR MOMENTARILY STOPPING, FOR VISUAL INSPECTION, THE RELATIVE TRANSLATION OF A PORTION OF A MOVING WEB OF MATERIAL, COMPRISING, A FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS JOURNALED FOR ROTATION ABOUT FIXED, WIDELY-SPACED AXES DEFINING A FIRST PLANE, A SECOND PAIR OF ROLLERS JOURNALED FOR ROTATION ABOUT CLOSELY-SPACED AXES DEFINING A SECOND PLANE PARALLEL WITH AND VERTICALLY OFFSET FROM SAID FIRST PLANE, ALL SAID AXES BEING PARALLEL, A PAIR OF SPACED RACKS FIXED PARALLEL WITH SAID PLANES AND EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID WEB BETWEEN SAID FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS, FIRST AND SECOND PARALLEL SHAFTS ON WHICH SAID SECOND PAIR OF ROLLERS ARE RESPECTIVELY JOURNALED, A FIRST PAIR OF PINIONS FIXED TO SAID FIRST SHAFT, EACH IN MESH WITH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID RACKS, A SECOND PAIR OF PINIONS FIXED TO SAID SECOND SHAFT, EACH IN MESH WITH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID RACKS, AND A SLIDE JOURNALING SAID SHAFTS IN FIXEDLY SPACED PARALLEL RELATION. 